Letters to the editor

Thursday

Sep 5, 2013 at 3:15 AM

To the editor:

Like many residents, I have been paying close attention to the budget and tax-related issues currently facing our city. The complexity and scope of these issues seem to be stacking up at an alarming rate. There is the state revenue-sharing shortfall, the depletion of the Retirement Reserve Funds, the negative adjustment to the city’s valuation, and the resulting increase in property assessments.

In my opinion, a strong organization can be judged by its ability to effectively respond to adversity, but also to proactively use data and resources at its disposal to reduce exposure to future adversity. In that regard, our downward financial trend has been building for many years, yet some on the city council seem surprised and unprepared to address the scope of our economic situation.

As Vice Chair of the Budget Committee, I said several times that the city is on an unsustainable path. Our expenses continue to grow exponentially while our revenue remains alarmingly flat. To prove my point, I used historic budget data to create a five-year financial projection. As an example, assuming no major changes, in five years the medical benefits for our municipal employees will cost taxpayers at least $750,000 more than they do today.

Using the same run-rate projections, in five years the combined city and school budget will be at least $3.8 million more than it is today. That doesn’t include the now-permanent $750,000 yearly expense of paying the city retiree benefits. In about five years, city taxpayers will also be asked to fund the periphery needs to outfit the new high school project, which will certainly be substantial.

Again, the financial issues we are facing should not be a surprise. In the last five years, we have lost 10 percent of our city valuation, we have seen an increase of 17 percent in assessment, and the tax rate has increased by 29 percent. All the while, the revenue line has been flat.

Any city councilor could have accessed and researched this information just as I did as a first-time Budget Committee member. In fact, trends could have been analyzed and addressed a few years ago to reduce the impact we are seeing today.

I have continued to call for a focus on economic development and an urgent review of our financial policies. In my opinion, the city council’s reaction has been to deflect responsibility by suggesting that we are somehow victims of our environment. They have offered short-term solutions that do not align with the scope of the mounting gap between the city’s expenses and its revenues.

As difficult as the current tax situation is, it will get much worse if we remain on this same path. We must demand informed leadership, forward-looking financial policies, and a willingness to collaborate with all stakeholders. There is a great deal of expertise in this city from all walks of life. We need to seek out and harness this knowledge to create a road map to more prosperous times.

Thomas Cote

Candidate for Mayor

Sanford

To the editor:

It has been four weeks since I posted a letter regarding the Reserve Account that originally had $3 million in it and has run out of funds. The City Council has not seen fit to answer to the citizens of Sanford, nor have any of these citizens shown any interest in finding out what happened. Councilor Brad Littlefield said that the market had a big drop in 2008, but there was a recovery in 2009, and it was stated that there were sufficient funds to last to 2020. Town Manager Steven Buck reported recently that the fund was empty. Why hasn’t the reserve account been replenished if the funds were low? What really happened to the $3 million?

Does anyone care?

I have written a dozen letters since I moved to Sanford 13 years ago regarding the water and sewer departments operating as separate entities when they basically do the same thing. Their invoices are based on water usage with base charges on top of usage charges. They should be one department of the City Government, but it will not happen with the current people on the city council.

Does anyone care?

Apparently, there are some who do not like it when we, the citizens of Sanford, vent our frustrations through letters to the editor. It is suggested that we run for office if we are not happy with what is going on in this city. I’m not happy, but I’m not going to run; however, I will speak or write when I see or hear of anything I do not agree with. For example, Maura Herlihy is running for mayor, so I am interested in her record in public office. I know that she has been involved in local government for several years. I know that she has been a part of the change from a town to a city well before its time. She was part of the creation of the charter, which is a horrible document. For example, she will remain on the council even if she loses the election as mayor. She was involved in Sanford Downtown Legacy, which ran “Holly Daze.” which was abruptly cancelled this year. She was part of the rubbish ballot question that took away the option of the people saying “none of the above.” She is a part of the huge increases in taxes that we are required to pay. The only positive thing that I know is that she loves the City of Sanford; she has stated as much on several occasions. My suggestion to Maura Herlihy is that she resign if she loves the city so much. Do this before the people vote you in as mayor, as they more than likely will do. I most certainly will not support her.

Does anyone care?

The above certainly applies for Brad Littlefield. I met Brad several years ago when the Casino question was being tossed around. Brad was the head of a committee to hold public meetings regarding a Casino. I thought he did an adequate job, and I supported him in his run for the board of selectmen. He has been a less-than-effective leader since getting on the council, and I no longer support him.

I believe that we need new blood on the council, and we need a complete review of the charter. Only one member of the council should be on the Budget Committee, and the Budget Committee members should be appointed for a longer period of time. I was on the Finance Committee in Massachusetts in the town where I lived, and I had a lifetime appointment as long as I lived there. There was no political pressure to vote a certain way.

Does anyone care?

Carroll McMillan

Sanford

To the editor:

As I attended Aug. 6 council meeting, I heard nothing but more foolish excuses as to why we had to impose another large tax increase again this year. The reason is because the council cares little about how it affects you and they care only for their whimsical ideas that result in increased taxes to the poor people of Sanford.

Did the council ask for the approval to invest $5,000 to investigate a theme park? No, because they don’t have to. The reason is that the new charter, which many were fooled into voting for, lets them do as they please with your tax money.

They say they are concerned about the tax increase, and then they just go ahead and spend more of the money they need for their liking. I would bet that 80 percent of those who voted to accept the new charter never read it but were led to believe that it was the next best thing since chocolate.

Now they want to make new charter amendments. You better read them carefully, and see what they will do to your wallet. There will be a public meeting on these articles at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the Sanford City Hall. Be sure to attend or watch and listen very closely to what they are proposing. Be sure they are fully explained and you fully understand what good or bad could result from any of the charter changes.

I challenge the councilors to be truthful in presenting their reasoning for these changes. Not having any of them explained yet, I can’t comment on much, but the first one looks to me like easy spending for the council for anything they want. We will see. I hope we don’t get any more smoke and mirrors.

On another note, it has been brought to my attention that there is a possibility our city meetings will not be televised or put on Sanford’s website. From what I have been told, it appears to be from poor management and/or the lack of having qualified people to run the equipment needed to broadcast and record. Odd that the funds given to the station have done nothing but wasted more of the taxpayers’ money.

I think all those concerned with the increased taxes and the foolish spending of our tax money should start attending the meetings. It’s only a few hours of your time every month and will keep you up on all the issues that keeps burdening us with the increasing taxes every year.

If you can’t attend because of commitments, send an e-mail to the council or write letters to them and the newspapers. Let them know how you feel, as many more are doing now. Don’t be intimidated by scare tactics, as this council loves to do. It’s nothing but a strategy intended to influence public reaction by the exploitation of fear.

People, please pay attention to what the Powers That Be are doing to you. Can we all afford this craziness? I know I can’t. Elections are coming up very soon. It’s time for all to take a good look at who is running. There are some new, well-qualified people to pick from. Lets choose those with some common sense when it comes to spending money and are concerned with the taxpayers of Sanford.

In closing, to those who have commented on the negative letters being written, I have a solution: Don’t read them.

Dan Condon

Sanford

To the editor:

After reading the letters to the editor in the Aug. 22, 2013, issue of the Sanford News, I would like to thank the two people who wrote in to counter Mr. Mapes’ “naysayer” letter. I am glad to know that I am not the only one who thinks the Sanford City Council is only in it for themselves.

Yes, I am sure that Mr. Mapes has done and will continue to do as he feels best for the City of Sanford. That is his right. But please, don’t ask people to change the colors of their houses just because you don’t like the color. That is not in the best interest of Sanford.

I just like to try to bring to the attention of the Sanford voters what I feel really needs to be done to try to bring Sanford back from the brink of disaster. The almighty council has taken it upon themselves to dictate to the people only their way of thinking, not what might be best for Sanford. They want to spend the taxpayers’ money on their pet projects, not what will help Sanford become a better city.

As I have stated before, we don’t need any new parks to try to keep up. Right now, the parks and recreation department is the smallest and least-funded department in town. More parks mean more workers, more budget money and new equipment. Break that down, and it means more taxes.

The Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) program is a joke. There were better ways of handling the waste. They got what they wanted, and who pays? You and me, with another tax on something we already pay taxes for.

Roads have been a complaint for years and nothing ever gets done. When and if it ever will, it will mean higher taxes.

Buildings that are being torn down and not fixed up are now untaxable property.

Who makes up the difference? You and me. Higher taxes once again.

There’s unemployment and easy welfare and, you guessed it, codes that are not being enforced, and nothing is done about that. If I remember, our mayor said that she was going to push that issue. Nothing yet. She is more interested in keeping things just the way they are.

No, I am not a politician, and the only way I have of getting the word out is to write to the paper and hope people will see what is happening to Sanford. Anyone out there who is thinking of running for office and changing the way Sanford is being run, you have my full support. The last thing we need is the same old people raising our taxes next year.

By now you have all received your new tax bill. Aren’t they just great? Thank you, city councilors.

One last thing. I read in the Sanford News that Lebanon will start going after the tax evaders that register cars out of state to avoid taxes. Zero tolerance. Starts in October. Last I heard, that was going to happen in Sanford. What happened? It might just help lower taxes.

Roger Christensen

Sanford

To the editor:

Mayor Herlihy addressed the “money” end of Sanford’s challenge last week in your editorial section. I would like to addres the “time” element. We have seen that the City had to stand down the “Harvest Daze” event because a committee could not be formed to plan and organize it or any of the other festivities planned for this year.

As an active community volunteer, I understand the challenges. I observe that our young adults have very little time to themselves. Many are balancing study, jobs, businesses, and families, putting in long hours as the bills mount. The volunteering very often falls upon those of us who have been fortunate enough to retire comfortably. But, it must be understood that our health and mobility inhibit us in our efforts.

For those of you who aren’t involved in the community, please consider lending a hand to the city, a school, or a church. For those of you who are involved, I would ask you to make a critical review of your commitments and honestly ask yourself if you are supporting the sort of things you actually want as a legacy. I’ve recently streamlined my commitments to one veteran group, a school board position, and a martial arts school. I’m finding a great deal more focus, efficiency and productivity that leads to a great deal of satisfaction.